Trading favors
Monday, Mar 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * Trading a vote for a job or a project isn’t exactly new, but when you’re under the microscope, everything looks bigger than it is…
Quid that may or may not have been suggested, no real pro and the quo never went through. Not a huge story, but not a good way to start off the week, either.
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Brady says he’s in
Monday, Mar 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * No surprise here, but it’s now at least semi-official…
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Question of the day
Monday, Mar 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * The setup…
* The question: Come up with another name for April Fools Day in Illinois.
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The motivation behind Zell’s moves
Monday, Mar 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * The New York Times had this unsurprising quote about Tribune owner Sam Zell yesterday…
Reinsdorf’s claim was essentially confirmed by team chairman Crane Kenney. * This brings us to the uproar over the sale of the Cubs, Wrigley Field and the park’s naming rights. Crain’s has the story behind the story…
* Selling the team, the park and the naming rights would more than cover that first payment. And that was the initial plan. Zell doesn’t care about baseball. The team is just another asset to be dumped. But the stadium deal is taking longer than expected, to say the least. So Zell - who is facing a depressed advertising market - is now looking to sell other assets to cover his nut. But that doesn’t take the heat off the Wrigley deal.,,
Zell is sitting on top of a shakey house of cards, so expect the pressure to intensify on the proposed state buyout of Wrigley Field, regardless of any interim asset sales. * More…
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Nightmare ahead
Monday, Mar 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * Illinois isn’t alone in its budget mess…
* Things are really bad out in California…
* What makes Illinois different from all other states is the ongoing feud between Democratic leaders and the Tony Rezko corruption trial. Last year was bad, but this year could be much, much worse…
* Because of Rezko and the feud, stuff like this will be all the rage at the Statehouse this spring…
* Combine all that nastiness with a serious revenue shortfall, and you get a very negative session…
* Throw in demands from Republicans for tax cuts, and it gets even more toxic…
* More budget stuff, compiled by Kevin…
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Blagojevich pleads the 5th
Monday, Mar 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * The governor made a fool of himself in front of NBC 5’s Phil Rogers and several other Chicago reporters last week. Carol Marin has part of the play-by play…
* Eventually, the governor did talk a little about the trial, contradicting his earlier statements that he couldn’t comment. When he did, Blagojevich tried, as his his wont, to pass the buck…
* To sum up: “I’m not gonna answer. I’m not gonna answer. I’m not gonna answer. But, look over there at those evil Republicans!!! OK, so you didn’t take the bait, therefore, I’m not gonna answer. Next question?” Expect more of the same for the next three months. * Meanwhile…
All reporters have heard pretty much the same thing over the years. If you got a state contract, you got a follow-up call from a fundraiser. And the tactics were reportedly on the hardball side.
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Hurckes attracts national heat
Monday, Mar 31, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * There’s little doubt that Jerry Hurckes - Congressman Dan Lipinski’s chief of staff - is a self-important buffoon. But now he has become a Republican target for allegedly violating House ethics rules. The alleged violation surfaced after Hurckes objected to an Oak Lawn proposal to hire a federal lobbyist. Hurckes, who is an Oak Lawn trustee, had claimed that the proposal was a deliberate slap in his face because he uses his position to take care of the village…
* That Roll Call article quoted the House ethics manual…
* So, rather than “discouraging” suggestions that Hurckes was helping his village more than another, he promoted his federal position to his constituents. And that could mean that when Hurckes was advocating for Oak Lawn’s projects, he was helping his campaign, which is also prohibited. Oops.
That’s an awful thin line, particularly since Hurckes is currently running for mayor of Oak Lawn. Turns out, he’s been taking campaign contributions from companies which lobby Congressman Lipinski’s committee…
Interestingly enough, there are no ethics rules regarding this particular situation, probably since it hasn’t ever really come up before now. The reporter who broke the story told Ray Hanania the other day that he can’t find another instance of a congressional staffer who held local office. * Hurckes was Bill Lipinski’s chief of staff before he worked for the son. He’s getting paid a congressional salary plus cash from both Lipinskis’ campaign funds for consulting work. Hurckes’ congressional salary, according to Roll Call, is just under the federal limit which allows him to have outside income. Convenient. * The Roll Call article which disclosed the alleged violations was all the talk of DC last week, and the Republicans, who are facing setback after setback, including loads of members under dark clouds of federal investigations, are looking to make some national hay…
Bet on it. And i’m sure they’ll dredge up the accusations of election fraud from his past, including this one recalled by Carol Marin…
What a guy.
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Morning Shorts
Monday, Mar 31, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning * Diminishing state support for colleges cause for concern * Global surge at the University of Illinois
* ‘They just eat, sleep, breathe mathematics and science‘ * Koreans comprise largest foreign contingent * State representative robbed in her home * February primary post-election report from Cook County * Rezko lawyers ask judge to bar call * Youth prisons suffer teacher shortage * The Challenge to Chicago Schools and other leaders * Schools’ aim: Getting smaller to get better * State releases school financial report card * Several Springfield people linked to Rezko trial * Once-vibrant Evening Republican Club disbands * New life sought for work camp
* Three for three: Bad decisions, response and wiring * Gov. Blagojevich announces partnership with Center for Economic Progress to help seniors, veterans * Gov’t official says HUD chief leaving * Get moving on staffing hate crime panel * Foster delivers party response * You can squeeze blood from a turnip
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Readers comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Mar 28, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning Alright I’m out. Thanks to everyone for helping me while Rich was gone, and for making it a fun week. Have a great weekend and head to Illinoize for updates.
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Caption Contest!
Friday, Mar 28, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning * This was a story back in July. Here is the background info.
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Facebook, the future for legislators?
Friday, Mar 28, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning * More and more public officials are realizing the value of the social networking site Facebook. Many have used the site to help spread awareness about their campaigns. I remember seeing the “One Million Strong for Barack Obama” group when I was in school. Now candidates of all levels of office are joining in. However, some are also beginning to notice its potential for advancing their legislative agenda:
* Soon after, Rep. Greg Harris contacted the administrator to ask about his group. “I had no idea there was this much grassroots organizing going on,” said Harris, the rep. who is sponsoring the civil union legislation. Harris said he is still working with the group to see what type of awareness he can raise through the Web site. For now, he has posted a message on the group page asking members to continue lobbying for the cause and offering his office contact information. The bill would grant the same legal rights to same-sex couples as it would a married couple, such as hospital visitation, health care choices and funeral options. However, no church or other religious institution would be forced to sanction the union:
* Currently Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire all allow civil unions and Massachusetts will grant marriage licenses to same sex couples. Voters in Missouri overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment in 2004 defining marriage as “only between a man and a woman.” Since then, there have been no major efforts by state legislators to legalize civil unions in the state. Harris said he is unsure of when the civil union bill could get called to a vote before the entire Illinois House. It narrowly passed a House committee last March and then was amended to remove all references to marriage in hopes of attracting further support. * Sites like Facebook and MySpace, once seen as teeny bopping pastimes, could become an integral part of the future of politics. Discuss.
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Ald.’s son receives $75,000 in City Hiring case
Friday, Mar 28, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning * In a follow-up to a post the other day, court-appointed monitor Noelle Brennan has doled out an average award of about $8,400 to more than 1,400 people for the City Hall hiring fiasco. Another 104 people who submitted claims were found ineligible for a half-dozen reasons. One person got $100,000 from the $12 million pool of money. Brennan also awarded $45,000 to two people; $55,000 to three people; $65,000 to six people; and $75,000 to another half-dozen individuals. The 18 people in the top tier of awards “provided detailed accounts of discrimination and numerous pages of supporting documentation,” according to her report:
You can view the report here, however, none of the people getting money were named in the report. * One of the biggest winners was the son of Ald. Bernie Stone. Jay Stone was awarded $75,000 because of his claim that he was a sure loser in his 2003 aldermanic election against Ald. Ted Matlak (32nd) because Matlak had the support of the political army commanded by now-convicted former First Deputy Water Commissioner Donald Tomczak:
This strikes me as a little crazy. I can understand the argument for doling out compensation to people who may have lost city jobs or appointments because of a rigged process. (Even though I don’t know if I necessarily agree with that because it hasn’t actually changed the system.) But to give an alderman’s son $75,000 because he lost an election because “he didn’t have any clout”? If you go by that logic there are people all over the city who should be cashing in. Discuss.
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Gov. Blagojevich weighs in on Wrigley
Friday, Mar 28, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning * After returning from spring training in Arizona, Governor Blagojevich talked a little baseball with the press:
He then added that as a Cubs fan, he would he’d love to see Mark Cuban take over the Cubs:
* The governor also said that the stadium is a top tourist attraction. While he says he is concerned that the stadium should stay, he also believes that the state shouldn’t use tax dollars to make it happen. Blagojevich also said that if there is a deal, the stadium’s name should stay. A spokesperson for the Illinois Sports Authority, which owns and runs the White Sox’s US Cellular Field, says discussions are ongoing. * Additionally, many Cubs fans are buying a local company’s “Keep It Wrigley” T-shirts to wear to Monday’s home opener. The “Keep It Wrigley” shirt is the brainchild of Chris Festa, who launched the company five years ago with the shirt “In Dusty We Trusty.” He also designed the popular “(773) For-Ever/I’ll Never Move to Naperville” and “South Side/You Wouldn’t Last A Day Down Here” shirts. “Keep It Wrigley” is his best-selling sport shirt since “In Dusty We Trusty,” he said. He has shipped the anti-name-change shirts to Cubs fans in North Carolina, Arkansas and Florida. The Sun-Times is having a contest where they will be giving away 100 “Keep It Wrigley” shirts to the best limerick authors:
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Morning Shorts
Friday, Mar 28, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning * Wally Phillips was Chicago radio * Tax hike gives Palatine no good options * More taxes to come? * Is $35 too much for a movie ticket? * NYSE tells Sun-Times Media of non-compliance * McCulloch Verdict a Template for a Future Terry Link? * ICC approves 5-year, $139 million plan to improve safety at rail crossings * IHSA gets clean bill of financial health * Rezko’s lawyers visit him in jail
* Illinois wants to check drivers license applicants for warrants * State alters rules, now says Plainfield needs a hospital
* Illinois’ kids fare better, but problems remain * Durbin to update progress at Marion’s scrutinized VA hospital
* Dean to Clinton and Obama: Bickering could hurt party in November * McCain Launches First General Election TV Ad * Laura, Jenna Bush to promote new book in Naperville
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